Where Whine Meets Wine

I am so excited that it’s Friday I could just sing…or dance! And I just might! We sing and dance while we clean, and little do they know- that’s the plan for today. A good ‘ol cleaning cleverly disguised as a dance party! I love it! If you tell me you’ve never had a dance party while cleaning not only will I not believe you (c’mon, I know you’ve let a move bust through the tunes while cleaning.), but I will defriend you. Unfriend. Whatever, we’ll be through. If you really haven’t. Crank up some of your favorite tunes from when you were in high school… and find yourself a’dancing! And then we can remain friends.

Now back to our regular programming.., I was so happy just a few minutes ago, and it seems my mood is fading fast. I’d better get to cleaning dancing as fast as I can so that I don’t lose my good mood completely. Deep breath in. Deep breath out.

So now we’re really back to our regular programming. It’s Friday, and I’m thankful. After a weekend that felt like it lasted a week, I’d never been so excited to see my children. 4 days was at least a day too long to be separated from them! But I am very thankful for my parents (and littlest brother) for having them, and the kids had so much fun. It’s very apparent our separation was much harder on the mama than the children.

Mostly, I am thankful for hubbyman. I wasn’t sure he was so supportive of me becoming a doula, but he has been amazing. During the weekend he’d make me a drink, and let me debrief. And he’d get up and make breakfast, and more importantly, coffee, before I’d head back in. After 6 hours worth of driving, 21 hours of sitting on the floor trying to soak in every word, and 3 hours of coffee runs… it left me completely exhausted. Mentally, physically, and definitely emotionally. Hubbyman has been so great. He’s put the big kids to bed and come up to find me still cuddling with littlest (What? After the weekend, I needed some extra cuddles!) and has taken him and put him to bed as well. And encouraged me to have some down time, some quiet time, and that it was ok to do so. He has done that almost every night this week. The first night I fell asleep on the couch, and the nights after that I’ve only spent maybe an extra hour awake and up, lounging on the couch. But it has been amazing for my own self. I actually have slept better, and better yet- I wake up, feeling like I actually got some sleep! And I am really shocked by how much more patience I have during the day. Apparently, I was really needing some down time. Where I’m not mom, and I’m not in charge, and even if it’s just mindlessly watching TV, I’m allowing myself some time to unwind, relax, and just be. And apparently, that’s exactly what I’ve been needing. I am so thankful to my hubbyman, for allowing and encouraging me to have some time for myself. (It’s like he knows me or something.)

Not only has he allowed me some time, but he was been incredibly supportive. He recently accepted a new position within his company and has promised to find ways that I could attend births, without having to stress over childcare, because he’d simply come home and stay with the kids. He is an incredibly hard worker and in his previous position they kind of let him do what he wants because of that- I’m hoping his next boss feels that way too! I will be doing daytime childcare for friends starting late fall/early winter, and so I’m trying to get all the births in that I can before then! (I have 3 on the books between now and then.) A local hospital has a great program where they offer doula services. While it’s unpaid, it would be a chance to get a good number of births under my belt, and stay active in the birthing community, and be able to schedule it. I’m going to wait a few months into doing childcare before officially signing up (I don’t want to over extend myself), but I’m very excited. And I love how supportive hubby is. He understands why I want to do it, and believes in it whole-heatedly. And is truly willing to explore every avenue possible so that I can do and achieve things that I want/believe in. It’s incredibly endearing. If I am successful in anything (be it professional or personal), a great portion of it is because I have his support. And I am so grateful.

This week has felt like it’s been a taste of extremes. We’ve had moments that felt like they were tastes of heaven, and nights that have surely been a taste of hell. Last weekend Biggest spent the weekend with his grandparents, and so I was left with just the younger two. And we had so much fun. Miss usually hangs with her bigger brother, so it was fun to see her and Littlest learning about playing together.

These two are something else. Miss is a chatter box and Littlest is the proverbial head strong bull in the China shop. They’re a little yin and yang, but usually, it works out. She’s mothery, and he’s fearless. She taught him to climb up all the ladders, and he taught her that the biggest tunnel slides are not so scary.

I just love that I captured their expressions!

On the way back we took a path through the “jungle” (a wooded trail), and Miss paused, looked closely at this pile of birch logs, followed by a sigh and a shaking of her head, nope, those aren’t diamonds.

Our weekend was followed by the crankiest, angriest Littlest boy we have ever seen. He has those terrible “2 year molars” coming in. Seems a little unfair, since he’s not even two. At least if he were 2, he’d have more words to convey his feelings. Yesterday was the first day all week for his nap to last even an hour, and last night he only woke up twice. Which in comparison is pretty good. However, his second waking was at 3:30 and while his teething medicine calmed him quickly, he lay restless and awake until around 5:30. Let’s just say this mama is going to need a lot of coffee for survival purposes today.

In the midst of the sleeplessness and the fussing, I am thankful.

I am thankful for the fun I had with my 2 littler ones.

I am thankful for the fun Biggest got to have- even if it was without me.

I am thankful I was with my dad when I locked my keys in the truck.

I am thankful that teething doesn’t last forever.

I am thankful for my hubbyman.

I am thankful for my family.

I am thankful for my friends.

I am thankful for friends who come over “just to hang out.”

I am especiallythankful for the full pitcher of sangria I have sitting in my refrigerator. So thankful, I’m even willing to share. Some.

It sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? To just choose joy. But it’s not. But I’m trying. The truth is, when we first became parents, hubbyman had a bit of a short fuse. But his patience has grown with every year, and every child. And the sweet, sweet man that he is prays for patience and a softening of his heart, every night. Heartmelting, right?

My story is not so heartwarming. I’m pretty sure I was much more even-keeled, cool, calm, collected, and patient when I was a brand new mommy. But the brand new, wide-eyed mommy soon became the mommy of three. Three of the age where we’ve had 2 times of 2 in diapers (Biggest & Miss, and then Miss and Littlest. I guess by the time of littlest she was down to just nighttime, but still.). Which means that they are still ages where they often wake up at night. Ok, so the bigger ones don’t get up nightly and sometimes they’ll both stay sound asleep for weeks. (Ok, they don’t sleep for weeks, but they stay asleep, in their own little beds every night for weeks.) But Littlest normally still wakes at least once. Usually twice. And I’m with them all. day. every. day. EVERY. DAY. I guess what I’m trying to say is that they have worn me down. My sweet little children that look like they could do no evil have (on more than once occasion) left me hiding and crying in the bathroom. My ego and my pride feeling bruised and beaten at the fact that I’ve been outdone by three children under five.

Part of the problem is my own fault. I am not good about fulfilling my own needs. Allowing myself a break now and then, instead of the every few months that it usually ends up being. Hubbyman gives himself breaks in the form of projects in the garage, working in the yard, or planning things on the internet, or drowning himself in the latest political debacle. What does that mean for me? Well, it means that after having a baby on my hip, a girl hanging on my leg, and a big boy who follows behind me closely… it means that I am also the caretaker for the evening. Suffice it to say by the time the kids go to bed, I have to stay up for another hour, just to regain some sense of self before going to sleep and doing it all over again! But when I take a breath, a very deep breath, I can remember all the things I reallylove about them and staying home with them. And I can refocus on the truth: that there’s really no place I’d rather be, no job I’d rather be doing, than staying home with them. And that’s the truth. And today I am choosing joy. I am choosing to end this post, turn off the computer, turn off the cartoons, and really listen to their sweet words, to really play trains, even if he won’t let me choose my own words to say. To brush a million different dollies’ hair, and to take Littlest to the bathroom for the bazillion time, just because he likes to sit on the potty and sing songs to me. And that’s a whole lot to be thankful for.

This was was supposed to be super warm and I guess I just assumed that also meant nice and sunny. Unfortunately, during the day yesterday it was blah. Gray and dreary. Until closer to evening and then the sun came out. But the sun gives me motivation and I was planning on it. I feel bad for my children some days. Because the sunshinier (whatever, I can make up words) it is, the more motivation it gives me for cleaning. In fact, if hubbyman wanted to come home and play with the kids outside, I would HAPPILY spend the time inside cleaning, alone. I’m weird like that. So my plan was to get all my cleaning done this morning, we’d have lunch, and then we’d spend the rest of the day outside. But littlest and biggest have been unordinarily whiny and clingy. It’s a trade off apparently, because MissE has been extraordinarily helpful. So we’ve been playing trains, talking about all the baking they’d like me to do this weekend (cookies, donuts, and if they have to eat actual food, then they’d prefer chocolate chip pancakes. And maybe daddy could cook some bacon.) . Speaking of bacon… that just reminded me of something. This was a facebook status of mine, from last week (I think):

I made (gf) chicken and dumplings the other day and after eating, Evan asked, “How come Daddy doesn’t know how to cook like a mommy?” I responded with laughter. Then he added, “You should teach him, before he’s 100.” I responded with, Whew, at least I have a few years. It’ll probably take until then to teach him. Evan shakes his head, sighs, and says, “At least he’s a good bacon cooker.”

Oh children. And when recounting this story to hubbyman, Biggest looked at him, and said You really don’t cook like a mommy.

And on that note I am thankful for a sense of humor.

I am thankful for a hubby and children with a sense of humor!

I am thankful that the tree trimming idiots people did not break anything. Other than a couple of shingles on the roof. (Not only did a big branch land on a piece of patio furniture, but one landed on our skylight… talk about that-coulda-been-a-disaster. Especially as I was standing right under it happened.) I will be even more thankful if the roses they trampled, and the lilac bushes they stacked their wood on, survive. I had a dream they ruined my roses (which are admittedly the only plant that I’m apparently capable of/willing to baby), and planned to go out and ask them to be careful around them. But there was no knock on the door, no one saying, Hey we’re here and gonna get to work! No, they just pulled in and went to work… on all corners of the house. I couldn’t exit from anywhere! At least not without having to fear for my life.

I am thankful for a hubbyman who has a backbone made of steel. There is nothing that man is afraid to say. To anyone. Or at least most anyone. If you want something done, or need to call customer service- have him do it. It’s phenomenal.

I am thankful for all this sunshiney weather. It has helped me to sleep better at night, wake up more awake, and just feel better in general. Oh I love sunshine.

I am thankful that all of Biggest’s dental work is done, save one quick visit that is merely cosmetic. (He has lines on his front teeth where enamel never formed. At least those spots hardened, whereas all the work he had done was because the other spots did not harden.) He has been such a brave boy- we’re so proud of him!

I am thankful that for whatever reason, the stars have aligned and my house has remained in some sort of balance for about a month. It’s amazing. I feel much more zen.

I hope you have lots to be thankful for and wish you a house full of organization and good food!

Ugh. I am one tired mama today. Littlest has his last teeth coming in. Can I just mention the fact that they’re big, huge molars? And my wouldn’t-ever-take-a-pacifier-if-his-life-depended-on-it baby has become obsessed with chewing on them. Since he never used them, we had 2, that MissE used with her dollies. Littlest has taken them over, and unfortunately, we are now down to one. But I know it’s just a phase and with his age, I’m hoping it passes before I lose the last one and am forced to break down and buy another one. And when you’re sleep deprived, or coffee deprived, it’s hard to clearly understand what all angry, fussing baby’s deal is. I think I should just wear his teething tablets around my neck. On the plus side, he didn’t wake up until 4am (and then slept/cuddled with me, until 8). Which is much better than midnight and 1am, and 2:30am, and 4am, and 6am… that it’s been for the past week.

Today is also take 2 on Biggest’s oral woes. It’s just heartbreaking. Part of it we could not have helped (his teeth have spots where there is no enamel, and the rest of them have very soft enamel) due to genetics and them developing that way in utero. We do, however, wish that we would have taken him in sooner and wonder about how different the results would’ve/could’ve been had we done so. We may have ended up here anyways, but you can’t help but be critical feel the mom guilt and wish for a different outcome, especially if it means less/no pain for your child. But we are neither here nor there. No, wait, we are here. So that’s what we’ve got. I’ve already got the jello cooking in the fridge. And by cooking, I mean chilling. If you didn’t understand that, there are bigger problems afoot.

But amidst of it all, there are things to be thankful for. I don’t know if you all are getting tired of my Thankful Fridays, but I have to tell you. I’m not. I mean, I am… it comes around and I feel like rolling my eyes and my heart’s not feeling very thankful. But I go through the motions. And in forcing myself to think of a list of things to be thankful for, I find myself truly feeling thankful. And I’m telling you, you should try it- especially if you don’t feel like it.

So here it is, here is my list, here is what’s in my heart today…

I am thankful that Biggest is still being very brave in the face of the bright lights of a dentist office. I am thankful the Dentists must be very gentle and nice, because he still says he really likes his teeth Doctors. I am thankful that hubbyman has taken it upon himself to take Biggest. Every. Single. Time. He has been gentle and thoughtful of his boy, and it sounds silly, maybe, but it has been a bonding thing for them. Did I mention he takes off of work to do this? That’s huge.

Ready!

Aim!

Fire! (Daddy took the day off after Biggest's first dental procedure and this is how they spent the afternoon)

I am thankful that Miss E is showing some signs from losing some of her shyness. Normally she freezes completely when people (other than immediate family) talk to her, but yesterday she was willing to stay with new friends versus going somewhere with mommy. It’s pretty huge for her.

Playing with her big brother at the children's museum

I am thankful that Littlest finally slept a little better, and seems to be in better spirits today. I haven’t ventured my hand into his mouth to see if they’ve finally broken through (his teeth), because, well, he has no qualms about biting the hand that feeds him.

Yes, I am very handsome.

I am thankful for my mama friends and their little ones! It’s good for me and it’s good for the kids!

I am thankful for Maple Syrup! (Yes, you heard me right.) My family makes maple syrup! It’s my favorite time of year and we’re heading there this weekend- I’m so excited! Hopefully I remember my camera and take lots of pictures!

May you find lots of things (or at least one thing) to be thankful for today.

I’m aware today is actually Friday, but yesterday was a Friday of sorts for us. Biggest has been having some work done on his teeth due to… well, we’re not really sure. Either too much fluoride in the water when I was pregnant or something along those lines. Whatever it was, it caused his teeth to develop with spots of little to no enamel. So now they’re getting fixed, filled and pretty-fied. Today is his second trip (and he still has another one, or two visits after). He was scheduled for next week, but they had a cancellation today, so hubbyman decided to take the day off (*collective gasp* I know, right?!). So for us, last night was the beginning of our weekend!

I am thankful for a short week and a long weekend!

I am thankful for a husband who continues to consciously making an effort to make sure his family is at the top of his priorities.

I am thankful for a big, strong, brave big boy.

I am thankful for a dancing, talking, twirling, talking, singing, talking chatterbox of a MissE.

I am thankful for a littlest boy who makes an effort to make everyone around him smile and laugh.

I’m also thankful for dentists who are patient and gentle. Hubbyman’s been going with Biggest (because when I took him -to a different dentist- we had a horrible experience), so I haven’t witnessed it. But even after having to get the Novocain shot and work done, he happily went to the dentist again. He seems to really like his “tooth Doctor’s” (as he calls them).

I am thankful for in-laws who are coming tonight in for a visit. And how excited the kids are to see them.

And also the bottle of my father-in-law’s homemade plum port wine he’ll bring me (*fingers crossed*)- they’re good to me.

I’m thankful for a father-in-law (who not only makes wine!) but will be helping hubby with some projects

I am thankful for a day at the home & garden show this weekend- with Miss, Littlest, and my Mom-in-Law! So many ideas! And so many wine-slushy samples!

I am thankful that we finally have enough snow for sledding- and a hubbyman who’s made a point to come home early enough to go sledding with them (they’ve been promised another round this afternoon).

I am thankful for family and friends who keep me grounded and help my survival.

I read a post on facebook this morning that said: There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.

(Credit: Just Feelin' Good on Facebook. Clicking the photo will bring you to it!)

While I am still struggling with some things, there (as always) are still things to be thankful for. And since it’s been a while since I’ve remembered to do a Thankful Friday post… I’m doin’ it today! Some of these things have happened and some are happening this weekend… I’m thankful just knowing some of the things we’ve got comming up!

I am thankful for a day to celebrate my wonderful hubbyman (yesterday was his 30th!)!

A brother (and sister-in-law) that want to spend time with the people who’ve made them aunts and uncles. And requesting an overnight with them!

And parents willing to take Littlest for an overnight!

That Littlest doesn’t mind and actually enjoys being the only one and getting all the attention!

A whole afternoon, evening, night, and morning without children!!

A night out with friends!

That I’m feeling a little more like myself

That I’m giving myself permission to feel however I feel, for however long I feel like it

That I already miss my children (yes, I really am thankful for that. It’s a wonderful reminder of how much I love them, even when they’re driving me a little batty.)

For family and friends ready and willing to give me their support

For a very supportive husband (x a million!)

For children who are so aware of my feelings, and are always willing to give extra hugs and kisses when they think I need it

For my children.

For my children.

For my children.

For Biggest

For Miss

For Littlest

Repeat x a million

Now, this doesn’t really go in line with my normal Thankful Fridays (but I am thankful to have people in my personal life, and in my blogosphere life that are supportive and caring in my own mental health!), but a couple weeks ago it was Mental Health Awareness week, and it went by without my notice, so I am posting this photo now, because it’s good to be aware of it any time of the year!

(Credit: facebook group I Jump, You Jump. Clicking on the photo will bring you to the original link.)

I can hardly believe we’re just a couple short days away from Christmas! Seems like last week we were still waiting on Thanksgiving! But that’s how it goes every year, isn’t it? And sadly, I missed out on yesterday’s “Simple” post… I seem to have been doing that a lot lately. And if I’m honest, I’ll admit that I sat down to do it, loaded all the necessary photos, and just didn’t feel like it. So the kids and I made another round of sugar cookies instead. And I don’t regret it one bit! But I am hoping to start doing more recipes again! So that’s something you can be looking forward to (or not!). I have pictures and recipes just waiting to be shared! Everything from monkey bread pizza, sugar cookies!, and mug cakes (they take 2 minutes to make! seriously!). And more!! And they’re all gluten free! And soooo delicious! And since today is FRIDAY (duhn, duhn, duhn) and the fact that this is a season where we are bombarded by things to do, things to make, things to buy, things to give, things to get, and people to see… it’s easy to get lost in all of that and forget all the things that are really important during Christmas, and always. Along with being thankful. For friends, family, jobs, homes… here are some things I’m incredibly thankful for!

For a hubby who will have TEN DAYS IN A ROW off!! I’m so excited about this I can hardly contain myself! And my mom said that they’ll take the kids for a day during Christmas break, so we’ll actually get a day together! That’s really something to be thankful for!

For my Christmas present. Yes, I know it’s just a thing, but it’s a wonderful, pasta extruding thing that I’ve been wanting! And hubby was thoughtful enough to think of it and get it for me! (And let me use it before Christmas even! I did have his permission to open it, but I’m not sure how he would’ve stopped me since I was home when the Williams-Sonoma box arrived!)

I take great joy in finding “perfect” gifts for people! I am thankful that I have wonderful, beautiful people in my life to love and appreciate!

I am thankful for the sensitive side of hubbyman that who admitted he’d hoped it was a niece, because he thought it would be fun to have a cute, little niece! (But it will be fun that Littlest with have a cousin close enough to his age that they’ll be playmates!)

I am thankful for surprising the kiddos with the arrival of their cousin and aunt and uncle from China!

I am SO THANKFUL that we got a dusting of snow this week… and that there’s lots coming down now! (please, keep snowing! please, keep snowing!)

I am thankful for every person that stops by here! The ones who read it occasionally, the ones who read it regularly, and even the ones who just skim through. (*ahem*hubbyman*)

And I’m off to go decorate some gingerbread men, snowmen, Christmas trees, dinosaurs, monkeys, elephants, and strawberry-shaped cookies! What you don’t think dinosaurs or strawberry shortcake land berries are Christmasy? Well, you obviously haven’t seen our nativity then!

Merry Christmas, my dears! And may you accept all the love and hugs a little more graciously than my little ones!

I debated writing a post at all today…I’m tired, yes. But that’s basically normal. I don’t know why I threw in the basically, it is normal. But I’m feeling determined and motivated (that is basically unnormal*) and wanting to finish up some things. And then I remembered how important it is to stay thankful in life. That can be a big attitude changer. Maybe you wonder why I always post a few blurbs (sometimes more) of things I’m thankful for every week. The answer is really very simple. I need to. I have a tendency towards melancholy and can so easily get lost in the life of a stay at home mom, with 3 still little ones. The very act of typing out even just three things I am thankful for, even when -maybe especially when- I’m feeling unthankful, can change my attitude, or at least my focus. It can take a morning where every toy in the house has been dumped out, yet again, and switch my focus back on to things to be thankful for: my little mess makers, and the fact that we are in a place where we can provide for them, and that they have family that loves them so much they’re always bestowing new and messier toys for them. These are real things to be thankful for. And I am. Sometimes I just need the reminder. Thankfulness shouldn’t just occur on Thanksgiving. It really should be a way of life.

*Yes, I know it should have read ABnormal… but as you can see, an italicized ab doesn’t have the same je ne sais quoi as the UN. 😉

And here they are-

health. We all had some virus or cold last week and it was sooo annoying. In the scheme of things, I am thankful that colds are the extent of our health worries.

Sometimes I get frustrated with all that comes with protecting my little Miss and her gluten allergy/Celiac disease. I am thankful that we discovered it when she was young so that these things are a way of life for her, and normal. And that we figured it out before it did permanent damage. I am also thankful this is our greatest health concern for her! As there are families with far bigger health concerns for their children.

I am thankful for a husband who respects this time. And that he does things on his “honey do” list while I”m gone!

I am thankful for our families.

I am thankful for my monkeys. Who are currently behaving like children. I love them and the sound of their sweet laughter.

I cannot believe I’m saying this, but… I’m thankful for Christmas time. I am thankful for get togethers, and decorating (minimally), and seeing the magic in my children’s faces. And the fun crafts and baking you get to do!

Chocolate covered strawberries that are decorated so they look like Christmas lights! Except for the ones with roasted coconut- those are just because they're delicious!

The 2ft tree the kids got to decorate- complete with small stuffed animals and keychain toys.

No nativity is complete without a footless goose, a puppy bigger than the people, and a panther. Yesterday the nativity had gone on safari with a plethora of giraffes, hippos, and a rhino.

As Friday is normally the day I post about thankfulness, what better to start with than how thankful I am to the Domestic Recluse for awarding me this! Be sure to check her out as well. She is an honest, outspoken woman with words worthy of reading! *ahem* But wait until you’re done reading my words, of course! I am always amazed by the array of people that follow along on this journey with me! Yes, my moms (both mine and hubbyman’s), are probably my most avid readers and supporters, but after them, the majority are people I would not have expected. (Except for you, of course I expected you!) 😉 But I am ever so thankful for each and every one of you!

There is great responsibility that goes along with every priviledge… and here are the responsibilities that go along with this award:

Thank the blogger who nominated you!

Add the award pic to your blog post.

Nominate 15 fellow bloggers and let them know about it!

Share 7 random things about yourself.

Ok, well 1 and 2 can be checked off the list. Now I think I’ll skip to number 4, because I love the other blogs so much, I’m a little afraid you’ll skip right out of mine and forget to come back! (Kidding. But seriously…)

My whole family, both immediate and extended, are filled with artsy, creative, talented people… somehow I did not get that gene.

My husband has a lot of foods he “claims” to dislike. I take that as a challenge. And 9 times out of 10, he likes it, at least when I make it. Either that or he just wants to continue being fed. I’m choosing to go with my cooking is just that good.

My children think the best form of entertainment possible is when I dance, and sing, and act out songs. It’s ridiculous but they love it. They frequently tell me, Mom, you should perform this for Daddy when he gets home. Or Want me to do a movie on the camera of your performance? I then bribe their silence with candy.

I truly believe that life is just not long enough to drink bad coffee. That said sometimes I am just too desperate to do anything but drink that bad coffee. Hey, sometimes hubby’s super dark french roast is all that’s left and in those cases, well, you know, desperate times call for desperate measures.

(Mom: Don’t read this!): Growing up, I despised the holiday season. Everything about it. Ok, maybe not everything, but lots of things. It is really only as I’ve been a mother that I’ve come to appreciate the season again. It’s hard to be all grinchy when you have three little people watching you who think Christmas and all that it entails is completely magical. I’ve even found myself listening to Christmas music. Don’t tell my mom, as she is the type to start listening to Christmas music in October, and you can be sure I’ve always given her a hard time about it. I’ll never hear the end of it! (I told you not to read this, Mother!)

Sometimes I hide from my children. Ok, technically I’m not actually hidden, but occasionally when I see them walking by, in obvious search of me, I just watch and don’t say anything.

I am terrible about surprises. At least when it comes to my husband (I can’t help it- I always want to tell him things!) Or at least when it comes to gifts. Seriously. I got hubbyman the coolest gift, one that I knew he’d be super excited about! Only to tell him what it was within 24 hours of its purchase. He half guessed, and then laughed at me for quite some time at my lack of patience. I still intend to wrap it up though!

”When you consider nominating a fellow blogger for the Versatile Blogger Award, consider the quality of the writing, the uniqueness of the subjects covered, the level of love displayed in the words on the virtual page. Or, of course, the quality of the photographs and the level of love displayed in the taking of them. Honor those bloggers who bring something special to your life whether every day or only now and then. And, have fun!”

I love lots of blogs and love perusing through random ones as frequently as I can find the time. Here are some that I make a point (ones I’ve been following for some time and some that are still fairly new to me!) to check out!

Ok, I’m taking a quick shortcut here. Because I was awarded this award previously (here), and have already awarded some of my favorites, and the rest have all been awarded by others…. I’m just going to give you my go to list, in no particular order, and trust they know how wonderful I think they are, and hope you enjoy them as well! (If you happen to be one of these bloggers and have never been awarded this, and would like to be- consider this my official awarding- and pass it on!) 🙂

Enjoying Healthy Foods (a sweetheart of a lady with wonderful, real life recipes. she is the go-to-guru when I’m not sure how to cook veggies, she’s always got great advice and ideas!)

I wasn’t sure I could think of a 15th and now it turns out, I have like at least ten more that I want to share…. instead I will leave you with this one: My Big Cloth Adventure! (It’s Brand new, but I guarantee it’s going to be good!!)

Wife, mother, friend, mother-baby supporter, gluten-free foodie, who believes in intentional living and eating!! These are my meandering of my wonder filled life! And I find a good glass of wine (or wine slushie!) pair perfectly with all of these things!

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